Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, I. R. Iran.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

There has been a growing interest in finding plants with biological active ingredients for medicinal application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Three colors of petals of Althaea officinalis (A. officinalis) flowers, i.e., pink, reddish pink, and white were examined for total antioxidant activity and ﬂavonoids content.

RESULTS:

The reddish pink flowers of A. officinalis have more antioxidant activity and the power of antioxidant activity was reddish pink > pink > white.

CONCLUSION:

Findings suggest that the dark color can serve as an indicator of antioxidant content of the plant. Flavonoid content was highest in white flower thus this result indicated that flowers with light color can be considered for medicinal uses.